Johnson, Pieters share Bridgestone lead heading into final day.

AKRON A World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational with no clear favorite heading into the final round?

Yes, the old days of Tiger Woods domination on Firestone County Club's South Course appear to be gone forever.

Zach Johnson and Thomas Pieters will carry a share of the lead into Sunday's fourth round. Both sit at 9-under overall after a wild Saturday that saw the lead change hands several times.

Scott Hend held it once. He made the biggest jump of the day with a 7-under 63 and is just one shot behind Johnson and Pieters.

Others also could challenge for the title. Hideki Matsuyama is fourth at 7-under. Adam Hadwin, Charley Hoffman and Rory McIlroy are tied for fifth at 6-under.

"That's where you want to be at the beginning of the week," Pieters said. "You just want to be in contention on Sunday afternoon. That's it."

Johnson was on the brink of sole possession of first place going into the final round. After bogeying 15, he birdied the par-5 16 and also birdied 18.

It was just a matter of minutes before Pieters overcame a bogey on 17 and joined him atop the leaderboard. A 32- 1/2-foot birdie putt that hit the back of the cup and dropped in knotted things up with Johnson.

"I had very good putts today that didn't go in from mid-range," Pieters said. "It was nice to see one go in."

Pieters survived would could have been a disastrous back nine after he bogeyed 13 and 14. He got back on track on 15, then shot 1-under the rest of the way.

"First eight holes I was in the fairway, hit good shots, made putts, and the last (10) is a struggle," Pieters said. "I was just out of position every hole.

"I've just got to figure out a way to hit fairways."

A special temporary member on the tour, Pieters has at least a share of the 54-hole lead in a PGA event for the first time.

Johnson has won three of the four PGA events he has held a 54-hole lead in, the last coming at the 2009 Valero Texas Open. He mixed in eight birdies with three bogeys to move atop the leaderboard in a WGC event for the first time. He has not won a PGA event this season.

"I gave myself a lot of great opportunities," Johnson said. "I think I missed a couple fairways, maybe one or two. Hit a lot greens in regulation.

"Just a solid day all-around. I drove it good. I putt it good. I felt like I left some out there, but at the same time I know I made a few, too."

Pieters and Johnson know a crowded field of contenders are on their heals. Some can suddenly appear out of nowhere, just as Hend did Saturday.

Hend began the day six shots off the lead. His briefly saw momentum gained from back-to-back birdies stopped when he bogeyed No. 7. He regrouped with a birdie on No. 8 and had four more birdies on the back nine.

"I'm just happy to be where I am right now," Hend said. "We'll take stock tomorrow when we return to the golf course and approach it the way we do any other tournament.

"I made some great saves out there. I made a couple mistakes, but wouldn't give anything back."

At age 43, Hend will try to become the second-oldest player to win a WGC event since 45-year-old Vijay Singh won the 2008 Bridgestone Invitational.